Ongaku-za Musical: *The Monster Whispers*—Ota Ward Preview Performance Unofficial

Ongaku-za Musical will present the world’s first stage adaptation of *A Monster Calls*, a masterpiece of children’s literature that won both the Carnegie Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal. The story centers on Yona, a 13-year-old boy struggling with an indescribable anxiety. Centered on the themes of “loss and rebirth,” the production depicts how Yona comes to face his own truth through the conflicts he experiences living with his mother and his encounter with a monster that suddenly appears from a yew tree. A fusion of powerful vocals, heart-stirring dance, and fantastical stage design delivers a moving story that pierces deeply into the hearts of the audience. What exactly is the “story of himself” that this boy must tell? As Musicza Musical’s first major new production in eight years, preview performances will be held at the Ota City Hall Apprico. We invite everyone—from children to adults—living in today’s world to come experience this heartfelt production at the theater.